The Sheriff’s Office serves all the citizens of Butte County by providing a mix of public safety and public service functions. The Sheriff’s Office provides around-the-clock law enforcement service to every region of the county. In addition to 24 hour policing, we offer Butte County citizens a full range of services including, coroner services, civil services, court security and corrections.

March 6, 2018
BCSO APPLYING FOR GRANT FUNDING THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS OFF-HIGHWAY MOTOR VEHICLE RECREATION PROGRAM
Oroville, Ca—The Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is in the process of applying for grant funding through the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) program.
Funds from the OHMVR grant support the efforts of the Sheriff’s Office in patrolling the Jonesville Snow Park, the Plumas National Forest, and the Lassen National Forest. These duties include enforcement of state laws, federal regulations, and Butte County ordinances. If awarded, Sheriff’s Deputies will use patrol vehicles and snowmobiles to patrol in and around these areas year round. Deputies will assist with visitor safety, education, enforcement, and search and rescue efforts.
The Butte County Sheriff’s Office will provide information and education regarding environmental issues and conservation concerns regarding off-highway vehicle use. The Sheriff’s Office, along with Butte County Search & Rescue will respond to emergency calls for service in and around these areas as needed.
Beginning Tuesday, March 6, 2018 through Monday, April 2nd, 2018, a draft of the grant application will be available for viewing and public comment at www.ohv.parks.ca.gov. From that website, the public will be directed to the Grants/On-Line Grant Application (OLGA) public review feature for instructions on how to submit their comments.
Written public comments can also be mailed to Sergeant Jack Storne at the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, 5 Gillick Way, Oroville Ca. 95965.
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Date: March 6, 2018
Released By: Sgt. Jack Storne
Contact: (530) 538-7389

BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ARREST LEADS TO CHILD PREDATOR BEING SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON

On January 19, 2017, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Detective Miller was contacted by the Sacramento High Tech Task Force for Crimes Against Children, which he is a member of, regarding information they had received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). NCMEC representatives had recently received information that a subject had been downloading and sharing child pornography in the Butte County area.
Detective Miller initiated an investigation and identified Ricky Leach, age 57, to be a person of interest in the case. During the investigation, Detective Miller learned that Ricky Leach was also a Sex Registrant. Detective Miller received an additional NCMEC hit from New Mexico regarding Ricky Leach being a suspect for downloading and distributing child pornography in New Mexico.
Detective Miller authored a search warrant for a residence in Gridley California, where Leach was believed to be residing. Upon execution of the search warrant, several computers and cell phones were taken and examined. Detective Miller analyzed the computers and cell phones and located in excess of 60,000 images of child pornography. Ricky Leach was subsequently interviewed and arrested on January 28th, 2017, for possession and distribution of Child Pornography.
Upon further investigation Detective Miller located additional images of Ricky Leach sexually assaulting a minor. Detective Miller was able to locate the minor, and confirm that the victim was sexually assaulted by Ricky Leach in New Mexico. Authorities in New Mexico have been advised of this information and are conducting their investigation.
Recently the case went to trial in Butte County. Based on his criminal history, this was a third strike offense and Ricky Leach was found guilty for possession and distribution of child pornography in California, he has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
BCSO would like to thank the Butte County District Attorney’s Office for their vigorous prosecution of this case and especially to Deputy District Attorney J. Bennett for her efforts and success in prosecuting a dangerous child predator from our community.
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February 27, 2018
BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ARRESTS JUVENILE FOR MAKING THREATS TO KILL A TEACHER
Oroville, Ca—On February 27, 2018, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) was contacted by a Prospect High School Official advising that a 16 year old male student had made threats to kill a teacher.
BCSO School Resource Officer, Deputy Jesse Nicholaw, notified Oroville Unified High School District of the threats and requested that school officials notify him if the student was seen on campus.
Deputy Nicholaw received information that the student was staying at a family member’s home in the Oroville area. Deputy Nicholaw contacted the student at the residence, and arrested him for making criminal threats.
The student was booked into Juvenile Hall, his name will not be released due to the fact he is a juvenile.
BCSO would like to thank school officials and community members who share information in an effort to keep our schools and community safe.
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For more information please contact
BCSO Community Relations Unit
530.871.9440

February 7, 2018
INVESTIGATION INTO THREATS OF MASS SHOOTING LEADS TO ARREST
Oroville, Ca-- On February 6, 2018 the Yuba City Police Department (YCPD) received a call from a reporting party who said they received threatening text messages. These text messages threatened a mass shooting and suicide at an unknown casino. The messages indicated the shooting would occur on February 6, prior to 11:00 pm.
During their investigation, YCPD learned the reporting party met the suspect at Gold Country Casino and passed the information along to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO). Through a lengthy investigation, BCSO Deputies identified the suspect as 26 year-old Wade Burnside of Oroville. Deputies were able to locate Wade at his residence in the 600 block of Mitchell Ave, in Oroville.
During a probation search of Wade’s residence, deputies located the cellphone used to send the threatening text messages. Wade initially denied sending the threatening text messages, but eventually came clean when presented with the text messages on his cellphone. Deputies also located 4.9 grams of methamphetamines, multiple methamphetamine smoking pipes, and ammunition inside Wade’s residence.
Wade Burnside was arrested for 422(a) California Penal Code (Terrorists Threats), 11377(a) California Health and Safety (Possession of Methamphetamines), 11364(a) California Health and Safety (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), 30305(a)(1) California Penal Code (Felon in Possession of Ammunition), and 1203.2 California Penal Code (Violation of Probation). Wade Burnside was booked on the aforementioned charges, with a total bail of $500,000.
The Butte County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the member of the public who notified law enforcement after receiving these threatening text messages. This tip led to the apprehension of the suspect, and possibly prevented an active shooter situation at the casinos that quite possibly saved the lives of many innocent citizens.
BCSO also wants to remind our citizens that we take threats such as these very seriously, and strongly encourages members of the public to contact law enforcement should they receive information on threats of this nature.
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For more information please contact
BCSO Community Relations Unit
530.871.9440

January 31, 2018
TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO SEARCH WARRANT AND ARREST ON DRUG CHARGES
Chico, Ca--On the afternoon of 1-26-18, Butte County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) Deputies made a traffic stop in the Chapmantown area of Chico. During the course of the ensuing investigation, Deputies located 3.5 grams of cocaine in the possession of the driver, 28 year old Steven Thomas Green of Chico. Green was arrested for misdemeanor Possession of Cocaine and booked at the Butte County Jail.
Deputies authored a search warrant for Green's home on C Street in Chapmantown. The search warrant was served later that evening. During the search, an additional 78 grams of cocaine, 262 pounds of marijuana, and $2,180 were seized. Prior to the service of the search warrant, Steven Green was cited and released from the jail.
On 1-30-18, BCSO Deputies located Green and placed him under arrest. Green was booked at the Butte County Jail for Possession of Cocaine for Sales, Transportation of Cocaine and Possession of Marijuana for Sales. He is being held on $500,000 bail.
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For more information, please contact
BCSO Community Relations Unit
530.871.9440